Thinking about getting a dog?

There may be more to it than you think!

Why do you want a dog?

Perhaps you're thinking about getting a dog. Maybe you already have one or more. Let's think about why. Make no mistake, there should be a clear rationale for bringing home a dog and some reasons are better than others. Planning to teach your kids about responsibility? To get you out exercising? A gift for a family member? An impulse buy? Too cute to resist? A dog for your current dog, because he needs a friend? I understand how these things can factor into the motivation to get a dog, but none of these reasons really cut it on their own. We're talking about an animal who will hopefully live with you for ten or more years. This dog is going to require your time, emotional energy, physical energy, and money. If the dog is going to be an afterthought, a cute couch accessory who garners no more attention than a throw pillow or a lonely, barking, digging yard monster, you're headed down the wrong path.

Why a dog? You could consider any number of other pets but you've decided on a dog. I like to think in terms of what makes a dog a dog, the “dogness” if you will, when helping someone through this thought process. A big part of choosing to have a dog is choosing to develop a relationship. It’s a back and forth relationship, a give and take, and it requires maintenance over the long haul like any romantic relationship or friendship. I'm someone who tends to need a lot of alone time. To clarify, I like space from people but almost never look for space from my dogs. I like their company without the need for conversation. They have a presence that differs from being with other people and I very much crave their companionship. I like to touch them. Petting your dog is as good for you as it is for him. I appreciate that they can alert me to threats. They live in the moment and that is a daily reminder from which we can all benefit. A dog can be devoted to you in a way that is unique from other relationships. They do not waste time gossiping or judging. They find joy in the little things. They are beautiful, curious creatures to observe as they interact with the world.

If I'm going to be completely honest with myself, dogs provide my life with a rhythm, a regularity I can struggle to find on my own. I absolutely love taking care of them and being needed by them. They are dependent upon us for feeding, trips outdoors to the bathroom, grooming, training, health care, exercise, mental stimulation, and opportunities to have fun. These are tasks that give me a great deal of satisfaction and purpose. How will you view these needs? Can you love and care for a dog by giving him the clarity, consistency, and boundaries he needs to thrive as a dog or will you ruin his dogness by viewing him as a little person in a fur coat? Can you devote the emotional energy to the ups and downs of a dog's life cycle, both in terms of health and behavior? Do you have the time to devote to their proper care? Can you get up in the morning before work and commit some quality time and then do it again in the evening after your work day? How is time for a dog going to fit in with your other responsibilities? There is also the not insignificant requirement of having the resources to invest in the care and training of your dog. Cost of care for a dog will change throughout the dog's life and there will sometimes be significant unexpected expenses. Are you up for that?

What do you have to offer a dog?

I'm not here to talk you out of getting a dog-I cannot imagine my life without them and I’d love for you to experience that, too. I do, however, feel a responsibility to be completely honest with you about what it takes for you to both get the most out of your relationship and time together. This isn't just about you and what you want; you're taking on the needs, temperament, and quirks of another living being who doesn't get a choice in the matter. Plan to do your best. They are forgiving animals who can cut us more slack than we deserve sometimes so don't abuse the privilege of their companionship.

Canine healthcare

Your dog's wellbeing requires attention to both physical and behavioral health. You are going to need partners in this endeavor. Take your time selecting the best professionals you can to assist you. A good place to start is developing a relationship with a veterinary practice. I cannot emphasize enough that you should think about the veterinarians, technicians, assistants, and office staff as true partners in your dog's care. Treat them as you would friends and family. Too often I hear people complain about what it costs to take their dog to the vet. Many people seem to think that veterinarians are just in it to price gouge us. Others adopt the mentality that since vets love animals they should be willing to do us favors when it comes to the bill. I'll give you a few things to think about to fuel some compassion for your veterinarian. Do some research on the cost of veterinary school. Compare the number of medical schools and spots in them to the number of veterinary schools and their relative class sizes. Veterinarians are typically the cream of the crop as students. They are people who had to put a significant amount of pressure on themselves to achieve their goal. They then have to earn enough to manage their extraordinary school debt. There is much joy in veterinary medicine. There are puppies and kittens and the satisfaction of problem solving to find successful treatments. On the flip side, much time is spent treating sick and dying animals as well as plenty of animals who absolutely hate being at the vet's office. I’ve had veterinarians cry with me and comfort me as I lost animals that they, too, had cared for deeply. These veterinarians then face criticism from owners for cost of care. The emotional burden and financial pressures do a number on our veterinarians, among whom there is a shocking rate of suicide. I promise you that if you treat your veterinarian and the staff of the hospital well, it will have a positive impact on your pet's care. It's also the right thing to do.

Think about your dog's health in terms of preventative care and then the unexpected. Plan for the costs of preventive care. Before you get a dog, check with friends and family about what they are paying in your area for examinations, vaccinations, fecal samples, heartworm preventatives, and flea and tick treatments. Make a budget. When it comes to the unexpected, be as prepared as possible. Some people are able to simply save for these things. It is possible to take out a line of credit such as Care Credit to help with financing unexpected bills. Pet insurance has become a popular way to handle these costs. If you are going to consider pet insurance, you want to do that sooner rather than later. Pet insurance typically excludes pre-exisiting conditions so signing up a puppy is a better plan than waiting for trouble. When weighing out how to plan for all of this, consider some different health issues: allergies, seizures, orthopedic issues (both congenital and injury-related), heart disease, thyroid conditions, and cancer. Again, talk with friends and family who own dogs and see what these things cost. I think it's a good idea to start confronting these concepts either before you get a dog or as early in your relationship as possible.

Grooming needs and costs

Grooming is another essential consideration for your dog's physical health. Yes, grooming is more than cute haircuts and bows. Unless you are especially skilled with scissors and clippers, some breeds/types of dogs will require professional grooming every 4-8 weeks (I recommend finding out what that will cost you for the types of dogs you are considering). However, that doesn't mean that they only need grooming every 4-8 weeks. You need to have a plan in place for brushing, combing, and bathing in between. For some dogs, daily brushing is required for optimal maintenance. If you don't keep up with the grooming needs of dogs with demanding coat care, they don't just look bad. Mats, tangles, knots, and the like hurt. They can cause bruising or trap moisture near the skin and create infection. The worse shape your dog is in when he gets to the groomer, the more your groomer will have to struggle to get the job done. That type of grooming appointment tends to result in a dog who doesn't like grooming. Dogs who are difficult for grooming often don't look as nice. It's not your groomer's fault if the dog had to be shaved down completely!

Sure, there are plenty of dogs who don't require constant brushing, combing, and bathing. Just because their coats don't get long and tangled doesn't mean you shouldn't brush those dogs regularly. Regular brushing means that you are familiar with how your dog feels. You will be much more likely to notice lumps, bumps, ear infections, etc. if you are checking consistently. As important as coat care is nail care. Long nails on a dog not only look awful but also create challenges for the dog. When nails are too long, they affect how the dog's paws contact the ground, which in turn impacts the dog orthopedically. If the dog has to alter his movement to accommodate long nails, or finds himself slipping because of them, it will throw off his body mechanics. I like to do my dog's nails every 1-2 weeks. You should plan to attend to your dog's nails at least monthly but preferably every couple of weeks. If you aren't comfortable doing this yourself with nail trimmers or a grinder, factor in the time and cost of going to a professional.

The Food Controversy

A topic that tends to create controversy among serious dog fanciers is nutrition. The primary categories are kibble, raw, and home cooking. Within those three categories there are what seems like a million variations. Supplements are also a significant consideration for a lot of dog owners. Just as we take supplements and vitamins to make up for gaps in our diets or special needs our own bodies have, dogs also benefit from high quality supplements for a variety of conditions. Be prepared to do your homework on this topic as it can be extremely difficult to wade through the studies, opinions, and dogmas surrounding dog nutrition. As always, please also consider how time and money factor in to each of these feeding principles.

Exercise for better behavior?

Your dog's behavioral health is just as important as his physical health. Many people ascribe to the belief that exercise will result in a better behaved dog. This philosophy has contributed to the explosion in doggie day care facilities, dog walking businesses, and dog parks. Exercise is an important health consideration for dogs, just as it is for people. Like us, exercise results in better physical and mental health. Dogs benefit from “blowing off steam” as much as we do. Different types of exercise and play activities can have the benefit of fulfilling some of your dog's innate drives resulting from breed or type. While there is no question that exercise is beneficial for dogs, it is by no means the way to get a well behaved dog. If you build up your dog's endurance like a marathon runner or body builder, expect him to have the capacity to drive you crazy for longer! Likewise, consider the impacts of passive versus interactive exercise. Many people think their dogs are adequately exercised and stimulated because they have lots of time outside in a fenced (physical or electric) yard. While many breeders and rescue organizations insist that owners have fencing in place, I can assure you that fencing does not make good dog owners or happy dogs. On the contrary, fencing makes it easy to be a lazy dog owner. While I wouldn't be without fencing, I don't just leave my dogs out unattended. Unattended dogs have often develop tendencies to bark, dig, fence fight, eat inappropriate objects, etc. Budget the time and energy to do something physical with your dog every day. You have to plan the type of exercise according to your dog's age, level of training, individual interests, and your own physical abilities.

Teach your dog to to be a calmer, more responsive companion

Mental stimulation is really the trick to having a calmer, more peaceful dog who is comfortable in his own skin. Many people acknowledge the need to train a puppy. Dog owners often feel a responsibility to attend a puppy class. Unfortunately, too many people stop there, or after a rudimentary class for young dogs, and feel that they've “done training.” If your dog “doesn't listen” or has “selective hearing,” you haven't taught him to pay attention to you and that what you say matters. You cannot train a dog who has no capacity to pay attention to you. Effective training should be a lifestyle plan. Building in daily behavior expectations lends clarity to your dog about the nature of your relationship. It is unfair to expect him to know everything for life after completing one beginner class that met weekly for several weeks. Think about how many years you went to school or how hard you had to practice to master a particular skill. Consider how difficult it is for us to “get back in the swing of things” when we've been lazy or distracted for awhile. If our bosses don't have any expectations of us, will we perform our best every day?

Once you've experienced life with a well trained dog, you'll never go back. You can have so much more fun together when your dog's obedience is reliable. Your dog will be safer if his obedience is reliable. You can avoid so many of the common issues dog owners experience. Taking a walk in your neighborhood does not have to be miserable. Taking your dog to the vet should not result in tears and exhaustion. Your dog does not have to be wild every time he goes to a new place or sees a new person or dog. Solid obedience training and good dog management will relieve stress for both you and your dog, resulting in a better bond and more fulfilling relationship. Can you budget the time, energy, patience, and funds to provide a dog long term behavioral health?

The case for rest rather than excess exercise

An often overlooked aspect of dog wellness is the need for rest. Dogs require approximately 16-18 hours of sleep daily, give or take depending upon the age, size, and breed/type of dog. It is not healthy for your dog's mental state to have constant access to you and it is unlikely that your dog will get adequate rest if he has that access to you. While admittedly this applies in a more pronounced way with puppies and adolescent dogs than with more mature animals, dogs who are not sufficiently rested will be more apt to test you behaviorally. I like to think about it in terms of a 3 year old child being dragged to the grocery store instead of having his snack and nap on time. Your dog will function in an overall more appropriate manner if he is allowed enough rest.

Are you up to the challenge?

Responsible dog ownership is a matter of critical importance to me. By choosing your canine companion carefully, you can mitigate some of the challenges I named. The quality of life your dog is able to experience is completely dependent upon you, your resources, your level of commitment, and proper planning. If you haven't yet brought home a puppy or dog, take some time to really think about what you have to offer a dog and the type of dog that will best suit your lifestyle. If you already have a dog and your life together isn't what you want it to be, find ways to chip away at the roadblocks as best you can to improve the situation. Be worthy of the dogness. You will only get out of this relationship what you are willing to put into it.